Question.
Write a logical note on the Cycle of erosion. (UPPSC 2021)
What do you understand by 'Normal cycle of Erosion'? Describe the landforms associated with its different stages. ( UPPSC 2004)
Write short notes on the normal cycle of erosion. ( UPPSC 2000)
Answer.
Under the erosion process, geomorphic agents such as running water, winds, glaciers, waves, etc acquired the weathered debris material and transport them to other places.
The cycle of erosion is also called the geomorphic cycle of erosion. The gradual development or change in landscape after the upliftment of land is called the erosion cycle. The cycle of erosion begins after the upliftment of land and ends after the formation of featureless landforms such as Peneplain, Pediplain, Penplane, etc.
Several theories explain the cycle of erosion, some important theories are Davis, Penk, and King's cycle of erosion.
According to Davis,
- The Davis erosional cycle begins after the upliftment of land end by endogenous forces.
- There are three major factors that affect the function of the erosional cycle- structure, process, and time.
- Each landscape goes through three sequential phases of the erosional cycle– The youth stage, the Mature stage, and old age.
The youth stage:
- If we talk about the humid climate zone, running water is the main geomorphic factor in the erosion cycle.
- In the young stage, a shallow V-shaped valley is formed.
- Running water erodes the valley vertically more as compared to lateral erosion.
- The integration of streams across the land is not good.
- Normally no floodplains are formed or even if they are formed, it is very narrow.
- Waterfalls are formed where local hard rocks are exposed.
- In this phase swamps and marshy landforms are formed.
In the maturity stage:
- In this phase, there is a good integration of streams across the landscape.
- The valley is still V-shaped but deepens and widens from a young age.
- Landforms such as swamps and waterfalls are not frequent in this phase.
In old age,
- The river's stream develops gentle slopes.
- Large floodplains are formed.
- River meanders are formed in the upper part of the landscape.
- During this stage, oxbow lakes, extensive floodplains, and gentle slopes of streams develop.
- Most of the landscape is at or slightly above sea level.
- The featureless plain, Peneplains are formed in this stage.
In this way, one cycle of erosion is completed. If the land is uplifted again then the erosion cycle starts again.
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